Page 58 - Green Builder Nov-Dec 2020 Issue
P. 58

FOR A SUSTAINABLE
                               DESIGN FUTURE







             Yesterday’s reality. Close-quartered
             dormitory rooms will give way to more-
             carefully structured, contact-sensitive
             sites, as colleges respond to the
             coronavirus. CREDIT: AJ WATT ISTOCK






































                   Pandemic-Ready Student Housing



                   When students finally go back to college, what kind of on-campus housing
                   should they move into?

                                  ITH THE HOLIDAYS APPROACHING, universities   THE SIZE OF SAFETY
                                  and colleges continue to try and cope with the   Koester says that safety and security will be paramount for future
                                  fallout from the COVID-€‚ pandemic. A relatively   students and their families, likely resulting in a desire for single-
                                  small number of college campuses resumed class   occupancy bedrooms in residence halls. “Single-bedroom units can
                   W this fall, and more plan to reopen doors in the       provide a safe haven,” she notes. “[A] personal retreat where students
                   spring …†…€ semester. Others have locked up until at least next fall.  can relax away from others.”
                     According to KWK Architects Principal Sara Koester, universities   She stresses, though, that this con•guration may be too isolating
                   and colleges that look to design new residence halls after the current   for a student away from home for the •rst time. Many residence
                   global health crisis will be challenged to safely house students while   halls are designed speci•cally to house freshmen, and studies have
                   still providing for their social and academic development. “Social   shown that freshman students in double bedrooms with a roommate
                   interactions have taken on a new normal: social distancing, limited-  have a higher rate of retention.
                   size gatherings, and a responsibility to act in a manner that does   A “next best” bedroom style that will be considered is a double
                   not make someone else sick,” she notes. “Residence hall design will   bedroom designed as a “paired-single” unit—two singles side-by-
                   evolve to re’ect the current pandemic condition.”       side—with each occupant having furniture, a closet, an operable

                   56  GREEN BUILDER November/December 2020                                               www.greenbuildermedia.com




          56-57 GB 1120 Design Ideas.indd   56                                                                                 12/10/20   7:04 PM
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